Haj operators in Riyadh have raised their fee by around 30 percent, citing inflation, particularly the high price of rice, the staple food of pilgrims. The round-trip Haj package tour to Makkah, other ritual sites and back to Riyadh ranged between SR3,000 and SR6,000. The facilities include moallim (Haj guide) services, food, accommodation in Mina and Arafat and transport between the Haj ritual sites. The same package fee last year ranged between SR1,800 and SR4,500. The packaged fee varied depending on the distance of tents located in Mina and Muzdalifa from Jamrat. The location of tents have been divided into four different categories – A B C and D. Accommodation offered in category A, where the tents are located close to Jamrat is the most expensive ranging between SR5,000 and SR6,000 per pilgrim. While the package fee varied between SR3,500 and SR4,800 for categories C and D, depending on the type of tents located on hilly areas or on the terrain in Mina and Muzdalifa. Category B is reserved only for pilgrims coming from outside the Kingdom. Najeeb Qasmi, an Indian prospective pilgrim, said he has been surveying for the best price for a group comprising his family and friends. He said in Riyadh alone there were around 30-odd licensed Haj operators, who have raised the package price at least by 40 percent as compared to the previous year. “Haj operators are attributing the high package fees to high price of rice, which they said is the staple food served to the pilgrims. The other reason is the increase in moallim fees,” he said. The price of some good quality rice per kilogram has increased to SR8 this year as compared to SR3 last year, he said quoting the Haj operators. The Haj operators have to provide meals and transportation to the pilgrims in all the ritual sites – Makkah, Mina, Muzdalifa and Arafat. Depending on prior agreement some of the operators will take the pilgrims to the Prophet's Mosque after Haj before coming back to Riyadh. Abdus Samad Wali, a Pakistani prospective pilgrim, said there was no discount available this year and he has to pay full amount of the package price even for his two-year old child. He said he thought of booking for accommodation located at some hilly area in Mina, which was available on cheaper rate. “But because of my young children I preferred for accommodation in Mina terrain, although it is in category D, around one-and-half kilometer from Jamrat,” he said. The Haj operators were also very strict while taking reservations from the prospective pilgrims, particularly about making of tasreeh (Haj permit). A pilgrim was supposed to produce a vaccination certificate, issued by either primary health care center or a registered polyclinic and other documents that included a copy of valid Iqama (residence permit) a letter with sponsor's stamp and two passport size photographs. The fee for the permit is part of the package. Authorities have started taking forms from the Haj operators to issue the Haj permits. However, there are few Haj operators who have shown “fully booked” signs and already stopped taking any reservation. In view of the winter season the pilgrims were advised to carry blankets with them. Usually, it would rain during the winter season in Saudi Arabia when the temperature in the ritual sites goes down substantially. Pilgrims might need to use blankets during the night time when it could be considerably cold in Mina and Muzdalifa.
